Guisborough v Harroagte Yorkshire Cup 1st Round

Guisborough: Points: 23

Tries: Dave Wardell (2), Ryan Daniels (1), Alex Ruff (1)

Penalties: Bradley Naughton (1)

Harrogate: Points: 26

Tries: Luke Hudson (1), Alex Nicholls (1), Max Simmons (1), Harry Parrish (1)

Conversions: Will Clough (3)

Where do we start with this match report? Da da, da, daa, da da da, da da da da di da da, da da,,,,welll we all know the tune to The Great Escape don’t we? I might not be sure of the words but start humming it while you read the rest of this................

Get out of jail cards, fifteen Harry Houdinis, digging deep, mental strength, wanting it more, say what you like but all of the clichés can be applied to this contest.

20 points to nil down just after half time and Harrogate’s U16s came back to win a belter of a match by 26 – 23 in the first round of this season’s Yorkshire Cup in perfect conditions away at Guisborough on Sunday afternoon!

Guisborough dominated the first half with a brace of well worked tries from County Full Back David Wardell and a third just before the interval from Guisborough’s man of the match Ryan Daniels allowing the home side to go into the break with a points’ advantage and physical and psychological superiority.

‘Gate hadn’t managed to breach the defence before the break (when points would have been greatly appreciated and even more gratefully accepted) and desperately needed a score after the restart to get back into the game only to be crushed when Alex Ruff crossed the whitewash to give Guissie a 20 points to nil lead and to maintain their dominance.

Luke Hudson touched down for the visitors for what looked as though it was going to be a consolation try by a Harrogate side who simply weren’t gelling and who clearly hadn’t had any playing time together since changes to personnel in key positions from last season.

But the stirrings of belief which began with some changes to the forwards’ line up before half time were beginning to ripple through the rest of the team. The forwards began to believe they could compete and started to match Guisborough’s pack. ‘Gate’s hooker Alex Nicholls won a scrum against the head and powered through to touch down close enough to the posts for Will Clough to add the extras leaving the underdogs needing two scores to win only for Bradley Naughton to wipe away the hope of a resurgence with a penalty that looked as though it had secured the cup tie.

The belief was infectious and ‘Gate’s backs wanted to join the party and when they started stringing some passes together, confidence was growing. Guissie were tiring. A Max Simmons try and another Clough conversion put the visitors four points behind with minutes on the clock.

Ferocious attacks from both side were fought off with resolute defences from both sides until an error left a gap for ‘Gate’s Harry Parrish to show a clean pair of heels down the wing and touch down under the posts for an unmissable two points from Clough to close the scoring.

This contest always promises to be THE MATCH of the season of this age group because the clubs have such a good history of closely fought encounters where, as the lads have grown up playing against each other, usually, only a couple of points separates the sides.

Once again, Guisborough were magnanimous in defeat and entertained Harrogate royally in the clubhouse afterwards. Real Rugby – a pleasure to have been there.

Harrogate Man of Match - Hugh Tatlow